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Chan, P W and Connolly, M (2006) The role of schools careers advisers in encouraging new entrants into construction. In: Boyd, D (Ed.), Proceedings 22nd Annual ARCOM Conference, 4-6 September 2006 Birmingham, UK. Association of Researchers in Construction Management, Vol. 2, 811–20.

  • Type: Conference Proceedings
  • Keywords: careers advice; perceptions; pupils; schools; skills shortages
  • ISBN/ISSN: 0 9552390 0 1
  • URL: http://www.arcom.ac.uk/-docs/proceedings/ar2006-0811-0820_Chan_and_Connolly.pdf
  • Abstract:
    Despite studies and initiatives into tackling the problem of skills shortages, the lack of new entrants into the industry is worrying. Take-up of Modern Apprenticeships in Construction is low. Furthermore, research suggests that school children are not aware of career opportunities in construction and many do not undertake activities that instil interest in construction at school. This research attempts to plug the gap by exploring the perceptions of schools careers advisers in encouraging new entrants into the construction industry. Through interviewing eight careers advisers in five secondary schools across the Northeast of England, the study examines the process of giving careers advice to potential school leavers and the careers advisers' perceptions towards the construction industry. The findings reveal that careers advice is given to students about the construction industry. However, this process is less than ideal and contains pitfalls that potentially prevent access of information about construction careers to the students. On a more optimistic note, the careers advisers' perceptions of the construction industry appear somewhat positive.